Owning A Tesla For 8 Months

Our 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR

It has been 8 months since we drove to Jacksonville FL to pick up our new battery car. We had ordered it in June - and then went to Europe for the summer. When we came home - the car was ready as promised. 

The car has performed flawlessly - we have not had any problems. We have not been back to the dealer for anything nor has the service truck come to our home. We had a 220 volt outlet in our garage from our previous electric car - we mostly charge it there. When we go on long trips - we like to charge at the Tesla Superchargers. Most of the times - those charges have been at WaWa Markets. Usually a charge is 15 to 30 minutes of time. But the big majority of the time - we just charge at home. The car comes with a charger that can be plugged into a 110 volt or 220 volt outlet. The 110 volt outlet takes about 4 times longer. 

The numbers on the car are impressive. It has 476 horsepower - it had 353 miles range - it can go 150 mile per hour - and from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds. But to me - the nicest things about the car are the comfort items and safety features. We have not drive it over 100 MPH. 

The first thing you worry about is running out of power. You get over that range anxiety fast. With 353 miles of range - I like to leave a buffer of 100 miles in the battery. When it gets down to that on a trip - I set the navigation to take me to the nearest Tesla charger. When in town - I always charge at home - it is cheaper - much cheaper. When charging at home - it costs you about 3 cents a mile. I plug it in at night - in the morning it is full. That simple. 

The best feature is the quiet. You hit the pedal - no engine roar - no seat vibration - you just zoom off. It is fun doing one-pedal-driving. Simply - you let off the "gas" pedal and the car slows and stops. There is no exhaust - no oil smell or oil film - the car stays much cleaner longer. 

Most of the controls are set using the large screen on the dashboard. The sound system has 12 speakers. You can even watch TV on the screen when not driving. The air conditioner works with the motor off - you could sit there for hours in cool air or heated air. There are cameras monitoring all sides of the car - in an accident everything is recorded. Your iPhone serves as the key - just get in the car and go. The iPhone also monitors where you car is - you can see the car on your iPhone screen - and it gives you the address. There are extra credit card keys too. 

The car has two motors - for the front and rear axles. That gives you full time all wheel drive. The disk brakes also generate more electricity when the car is slowing down. The car is great in rain - snow - mud - sand. I do not prefer the heated seats or steering wheel - but Lulu does. 

It has 2 trunks - really 3. One in the front - and 2 in the back. You can lower the seats in the back and have a longer trunk - but then there is a third trunk under the floor - lots of storage room. 

The price of our car with options was $52000. Add $4000 tax. I would not have bought the $2000 red paint option - but Lulu likes that. There is no rebate because Tesla has sold way over the limit. With price increases since then - my car now costs $60000. I am in the strange situation of someone having offered me much more than we paid for it. 

When you charge at home - it hardly affects your electric bill. When you charge at a Tesla Supercharger - Tesla automatically bills your account. You just plug in - and the charger recognizes your car. It fills it up to any setting you prefer. I keep my car filled to 80% except when we take a big trip. We have driven the car to Orlando - Tampa - Sarasota - Destin - Panama City - St Augustine. 

Owning a Tesla has turned into a political thing. Gas guzzling cars and trucks resent you. They do not like it when you are getting 3 cents a mile service and they are paying 40 cents a mile for gasoline. The worst part of it is - they cannot keep up with you - they are left to stew in the roar and vibration from the engines - and smoke from their exhaust pipes. The war with Russia and the rising of gasoline prices has not helped. 

Oil companies have spread all sorts of rumors about Teslas - none are true. Tesla batteries are easily recycled. They are not made with any special elements. They are covered by an 8 year warranty. Teslas do not burst into flames in an accident. Statistics show that battery cars catch fire at a much lower rate than regular cars - like 1500 for gasoline car versus 50 for the battery car - based on the same amount of miles driven. 

The dramatic popularity of electric cars is revolutionary - thus the demand and high prices. 

After 8 months and 5300 miles with the car - we are very happy with it.